FaF Fanfic ~ Chapter 1 ~ A new day

Quailstar awoke, cramped in his nest. The sun was peeking through the ferns that masked his den, dappling his Bengal patterned coat. He stepped outside, to see Silvereye, his deputy, organising patrols. He smiled approvingly, approaching her with friendly features. “… Hawkflight, you will lead a patrol. Take Ripeberry, Bearwind and Lunapaw with you.” She mewed, her dusty pelt a relic. He halted, giving Silvereye brief mews of concern. She purred a response, then getting up and padding toward the apprentice den. He allowed his gaze to trail after her, which is when he caught Morningpaw darting from the moss covering. “Father! Father!” she mewed, tripping as she halted, bumping into Quailstar. He chuckled and nuzzled into her pelt, purring. “Hello, Morningpaw.” He mrowed, gazing to his kit. Morningpaw lashed her ginger tail, pink nose twitching, followed by a ripple in her whiskers. “Can we train today!?” she asked, quivering with excitement. She shifted her paws, unable to control herself. Quailstar chuckled and nodded, “Of course. Eat up, and then we shall get going.” He mused, watching his kit gallop off before he could say more. Emerging from the warriors den came Rainshadow, followed by Bravebird, and then Dewstream. Dewstream shook her pelt and trotted across the clearing, selecting an appropriate place to bask. Bravebird snorted at her, then walking to the fresh-kill pile and picking up a vole, keeping his gaze latched upon Ripeberry. Rainshadow, however, made his way down the slope to the pond in the middle of camp, lapping up the icey cold water. “RAVENPAW!” a screech from the elders den disrupted the silence, and moments after, a tuxedo apprentice appeared from the apprentices’ den. He sighed and trotted to the elders den, peering inside. “What /now/, Stoneprint? I’ve cleaned your bedding, and got rid of your ticks. What else do you want?” he asked the matted gray tom, his teeth stained yellow. “Can you fetch me a vole from the kill-pile?” he asked, in a polite manner. Ravenpaw grunted, and as he did, Littleflower strode into the den. “Bothering young Ravenpaw again, are we, Stoneprint?” she mewed, her tone weakened by age as she fell into her nest. Stoneprint ignored her, and Ravenpaw spun around, plodding out of the den towards the fresh-kill pile. Moments later, he returned with a vole. “Here.” He mewed bleakly, throwing the limp creature into the den and padded out again. Duskpaw ravaged through the sand, sneezing every so often as the impact of the grains tickled at her nasals. The loss of Littlestorm had hit her hard, but she was gaining confidence every day. Darkmist could be heard picking out certain herbs to cure wounds in the medicine-cats den, mostly to heal Gorsepaw’s scars. The fragrance rippled through the ferns covering her den, sweeping ShadowClan camp with a sweet odour. Mosquitowing sat alone, her smooth black pelt rippling amongst the breeze the shade brought. Just then, Crowpaw, a black apprentice, came tumbling down the rocky ledge, followed by Cobrapaw. Crowpaw merely avoided Mosquitowing, but Cobrapaw was sent flying into her, knocking the small she-cat onto her side. Mosquitowing got up, snarling. “Oi! Mouse-brain! What do you think you’re doing!?” she narrowed her eyes to the small tom, who shook under her shadow. “Mosquitowiiiing!” moaned Crowpaw as she trotted closer, the two had always shared a great bond. “He didn’t mean to, he just landed wrong.” She chuckled to her mentor, gazing at the dusty brown apprentice who nodded in agreement. Mosquitowing just snorted, getting up and padding away. Cobrapaw took off, heading for the apprentices’ den, Crowpaw on his trail. Ravenpaw finally rested in his nest, watching the other apprentices’. He tucked his paws under his chest, swishing his tail with amusement. He didn’t so much enjoy playing physically, he found it more entertaining to watch. Duskpaw came crawling into the den, sand specked her muzzle as she flopped into her moss nest. Ravenpaw caught her steady breathing within seconds, and he knew she’d drifted into a deep sleep. Meanwhile, Littlesquirrel sat upon a layer of soft rock, gnawing contently on a mallard she had caught near the lake. Dustystorm approached, grinning widely. He swatted the back of her head lightly, making her squeak and drop the mallard. “Hey!” she chuckled, then sliding down the slope. Dustystorm watched her, admiration gleaming in his opticals. Boulderclaw padded around the camp, leaving huge pawprints in the sand. His silver pelt gleaming amongst the creamy terra. Quailstar noticed everyone leave for their duties, some hunting, some on patrol. He stalked into his den, to find Bronzepaw and Morningpaw had been venturing it’s contents again. He gazed at the ginger tuft from his daughters tail, just like Firetail’s. Smiling, he slipped into his nest, into a deep slumber.

Featherstar gave an almighty wease, as she slowly slithered her way out of her den, her gray pelt shimmering under the sun. Waspwing and Beetlewhisker were conversing, casting glances occasionally toward Wingedfoot, who shuffled awkwardly in the corner of camp. Featherstar rolled her pale opticals, plodding forth. It was then that Spottedleg, the deputy, emerged from the warriors den. Her faintly flecked pelt rippling as a breeze made her fur ruffle. She swayed slightly, as her mate, Harewhisker, emerged after. They gave each other affectionate licks, then both plodding out of camp. Featherstar tilted her head, continuing her stride toward Waspwing. The golden tom greeted her with a nod, as Beetlewhisker halted in what he was saying, bowing too. Featherstar smiled weakly, sitting down. “Waspwing, organise a patrol. Beetlewhisker, you will come, and so will Acornbounce and Yewpaw.” She mewed, her vocals fragile and rattley. Waspwing nodded, plodding toward Yewpaw, a white apprentice who was sharing tongues with Spiderpaw on the opposite side of camp. Beetlewhisker trailed off towards Acornbounce, a dusty shaded she-cat with deeper brown ear tips. She nodded and followed after Beetlewhisker, who met Waspwing and Yewpaw at the exit. They exchanged nods, before trotting into the open territory. Lizardbelly trotted in, too, dipping his head in greeting. In his jaws, was a leaf bundle of herbs. He passed Featherstar on the way to his den, dropping the heap and dipping his head. “Anything you would like, Featherstar? Anything to loosen your limbs? Clear your wounds?” he asked, nosing at the pile. Featherstar shook her head, “No thank you, Lizardbelly.” She rasped, fleeing back to her den. Lizardbelly sighed, picking up the bundles and trotting to his den. Bearfang stretched in the clearing, the Havana brown tom blinking his amber eyes as the sun rays hit his pelt. He stumbled upward, and plodded over to the nursery. Peering inside, his amber gaze met his mate, Grayleaf. She was nursing a litter of three kits, Pebblekit, Mudkit and Skykit. Mudkit looked like Bearfang, a long, fluffy pelt with glowing amber eyes, but with small grey specks upon his tail. Pebblekit, was a deep grey tom, with lighter dapples on his legs. Skykit was a white and brown kit, baring the same pale blue eyes of her mother. Grayleaf purred, and the trio of kits looked up. “Bearfang!” Mudkit exclaimed, wobbling over to his father.  “Shh!” Hissed Spottednose, a white she-cat with a pink nose which bore tiny brown specks upon it. “You’ll disturb /my/ kits!” she grumbled, gazing the the bundle of 4 kits. Mousekit, Wolfkit, Darkkit and Smallkit. “Sorry, Spottednose.” Mudkit whispered, nudging his father lightly. Skykit and Pebblekit purred their greeting, too relaxed to get up. Bearfang purred back, and nuzzled Grayleaf. He then turned and exited the den, All 3 kits and the Queen gazing after him.

Russetstar paced back and forth, ordering warriors here and there. She turned to Streamtail, a milky white she-cat with a gray maw and tail. “Streamtail, make sure the nursery is blocked up well and proper. This is not the time for kits to be going on secret strolls.” She mewed, and the creamy she-cat trotted toward the moss coated Nursery. Her deputy, Kitestorm, padding behind her. “I will organise the night patrol.” He mrowed, gesturing his erect tail to the sky. Russetstar nodded, then flicking her gaze toward Pondflower, a white she-cat with a small pink nose. An Angora. “Pondflower, you and Eagleflight will take your apprentices’, Ivypaw and Floodpaw, training. We need them warriors as soon as possible!” she ordered, as Kitestorm padded toward a black tom with amber eyes. Pebbleshade. “Pebbleshade, you will lead the night patrol. Bring Silverfish and Rainypelt with you. Oh, and maybe Gladepaw, if she feels better.” Kitestorm mewed, and the black tom nodded. A gray she-cat arrived at his side, obviously over-hearing the leaders request, for this was Silverfish. Rainypelt, who was gazing at them from across camp, made his way over. Gladepaw hobbled from the medicine-cat den, her front leg lifted and swollen. Rainypelt and Pebbleshade exchanged glances, but galloped away anyway. Russetpelt’s fur gleamed brightly, as she watched the patrol leave. A queen, Yellowlily, slipped from the den with permission from Streamtail. She plodded over to Russetstar, her belly bulging with her second litter. “They’re due any day now. Am I allowed to sleep in the medicine-cats den? I need to access herbs as soon as I start kitting.” She mewed, her tone concerned. Russetstar nodded, and gazed into the medicine-cats den. “Blackleaf!” she mewed, and moments later, a black she-cat wandered out of the den. She smiled and purred to Yellowlily, who touched her nose with hers. The golden she-cat then wandered into the medicine-cats den, Blackleaf at her tail. An elder rose from her nest, Clawnose. A pale gray she-cat with a scar running down her nose, disabling her from scenting anything. “What about the elders, Russetstar?” Clawnose mewed raspy, her fur ruffled. Russetstar gestured her paw toward cave, blocked by boulders with a small gap as an entrance. “You will sleep in there.” She mewed, her vocals steady. Clawnose tilted her head, “But that’s the apprentices’ den?” she gawped, tail lashing. “I know. The apprentices will use your den.” She nodded, and plodded back to her den with a calm gaze. Before entering the lichen, the she-cat turned sharply. “Insectclaw, Rushingsong, you will both guard the camp.” She dipped her head, and went through the lichen. Insectclaw, a jet black tom with glossy gray claws nodded, turning to Rushingsong, a brown she-cat with white stripes under her eyes. Rushingsong nodded back in response, after helping Clawnose through the entrance to her new den. And together, they made their way to the entrance of camp. Moments later, a screech rang out through the camp. Silverfish had returned. “Badger!”